This family-run Italian spot on the Royal Docks waterfront is the kind of place you stumble into after an ExCeL event and end up staying way longer than planned. The dining room is all rustic-minimalist with big windows framing the water, and the kitchen turns out proper Italian — fresh pizzas, hearty pastas, and a solid breakfast spread. It's not trying to be fancy, which is exactly why it works.
Family-run Italian on the Royal Docks waterfront — proper pizzas, hearty breakfasts, and water views, just steps from ExCeL.
Book ahead during ExCeL event days — the restaurant fills up fast with conference-goers and walk-ins can wait a while.
Honest Italian cooking with a dockside view
Bonnane is the sort of neighbourhood Italian you wish every exhibition centre had nearby. Perched on the Royal Docks waterfront, just a few minutes' walk from ExCeL and the IFS Cloud Cable Cars, this family-run restaurant and pizzeria does exactly what it says on the tin — honest, freshly made Italian food without any fuss. The dining room leans rustic-minimalist with natural accents, and the large windows mean you're never far from a view of the water. It's relaxed, it's comfortable, and the staff treat you like you've been coming for years.
The menu covers the Italian greatest hits: freshly made pizzas with quality toppings, classic pasta dishes, and a breakfast spread that's worth getting up for if you're staying nearby. Reviewers consistently praise the food as "fabulous" and "perfect," and the fact that they do gluten-free options and vegetarian dishes without making a song and dance about it earns extra points. There's a full bar too — wine, beer, and cocktails — so you can turn a quick dinner into a proper evening.
The location is both its biggest draw and its main limitation. If you're at ExCeL for a conference or event, Bonnane is a no-brainer — far better than anything inside the venue. But it's not a destination you'd cross London for. For locals in Canning Town and Royal Victoria, though, it's a genuine asset: a waterside spot that does the simple things well, with coffee good enough to justify a morning visit on its own.